New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-01-05
COULDN'T Stand Prosperity.

Z - llo pSOpl0S Oh heu flOp 6COulu uOO
imagine why Bart Bradford wanted
TO settle among them. 1t was the
dream OF their lives to get away from
Red Top. The place had been going
down from the. start, if it ever had
one. It had no railroads, no com
merce, no Industries, no past and ap-
parently no future.
Still the Red Top people were loyal
TO their town when they came in con-
tact with strangers. So, when Bart
Bradford and his wife, after spending.
several days at the hotel, expressed a
desire to make their home in the COM
nunity, the inhabitants, with ire
sistible unanimity, assured them that
Red Top was about to enjoy a boom
and they were lucky in coming along
just in tirne.t to grow up, with it.
After making the usual inquiries con-
corning the society, the water. and the
,-eneral health OF the town, the Brad
ord's decided to remain. Bradford
had several thousand dollars with him
and this money he Immediately invest
ed in a grocery store and a small cot
tage. The fortunate ciUizens who had
converted their property into cash
stralghtway left for parts un-
known, leaving the new COM
ers to wonder at their folly in
abandoning town with q boom just
ahead OF it. Such eccentric conduct,
however was common thing in that
neighborhood, and the old residents,
thought nothing OF it.
Although not an old man, he was
not more than forty, # that, Bart
Bradford generally wore a look Of set
tied melancholy. At times he had the
look OF hunted animal, but as rule
he was quiet and good natured, and
he soon became very popular. His
wife was mere girl, and the country
folks said s'as pretty as a picture"
Despite Bradford's peculiar moods, it
was plain that he loved his wife, and
it was equally apparent that she idol
lied him.
The years rolled by and nothing oc-
Cured to disturb the quiet course of
events at Red Top. The Bradfords
were not long in finding out that the
alleged boom was a myth. but they
did not seem to mind it much The
grocery kept Bradford busy during
the day and in the meantime the little
cottage had been frightened and en-
1ivened by the presence Of two new in
mates. a curly headed boy and a black
eyed and rosy-cheeked. girl. To the
casual observer it was happy little
family. If there was q skeleton hid
den somewhere in q closet nobody
suspected it's presence.
When the periodical spell OF hard
4 oo,,,o olorr Pod T~,,
severely. Several merchants failed
outright. Bradford found it impossi-
BILE to make collections, and saw ruin
staring him in the face. His brave
little wife cheered him up. She made
all sorts OF suggestions, and just to
humor her Bradford adopted one of
them. He advertised in q daily pa
per published in the city where he pur-
chased his goods, that he desired to
borrow three thousand dollars on a
years time, the moneyto be invested,
the advertisement said, in q safe bust
ness.
To the poor fellows infinite sur
prise, a few days later, he received a
letter from a city lawyer asking him
to call and see him about the desired
loan. Bradford kissed his wife and
babies and took the next stage for the
city. When he returned the next day
he was jubilant. He had the money.
To his wife he said he could not under
stand his luck. The lawyer had ask
ed him a few questions about his bust
ness, and had let him have the money
on his note for a, years time at the
legal rate OF interest. Little Mrs.
Bradford did not see anything surpris
ing in the transaction. She believed
that her husband s reputation was
known in the big city, and it seemed
to her q matter OF course that people
should be willing to loan money to
such q man.
Bradford met with another surprise.
At the end OF twelve months hefOund
that he could raise only about half OF
the sum due the city lawyer. When
he went to see him about the matter
the lawyer simply said:
That's all right. Keep the money
another year and then come and see
me-
Bradford returned home in a state
OF justification.
Long before the year expired, how
ever, the Red Top merchant received
a visit from the lawyer. Bradford
took him into his little office back oi
his store, and atdoWn in great agita-
ton.
'sNo bad news, / hope" he said.
Both bad and good, replied the
lawyer.
t'Let me here the worst, groaned
Bradford.
II am not here" said the visitor,
Ito press you for money, but I havea
story to tell that will interest you"
He locked the door, and drew his
chair close to Bradford.
.1The first Mrs. Bradford is dead =
said the man of law, in q harsh, rasp-
ing voice.
The man before him wrung his hands,
but said nothing.
II suppose you wondered why let
you hayeso much money without any
security, and was easy with you?"